Biography of Hjalmar RehnWill County, Il Biographies

Hjalmar Rehn, attorney for the State of Illinois, is numbered among the able practitioners of Will ounty. He
is a native of Sweden, born at Hvalstad, June 29, 1886, and the son of Axel and Maria (Munson) Rehn.

Axel Rhen, who resides at Joliet, came to this country from Sweden in 1888. His family followed him the next year
and located at Joliet, where Mr. Rehn has been well known for many years as a brick contractor. He is a charter
member of the Bricklayers Union of Joliet. Mr. Rehn is a Republican and a member of the Methodist church.

The early education of Hjalmar Rehn was secured in the public schools of Joliet. He spent some time at Galveston,
Tex., and in 1906 returned to this city, where he entered the employ of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railroad
as a timekeeper. In September, 1908, he entered the Kent College of Law, Chicago, and in 1912 he was graduated
from the Law School of Northwestern University. He was admitted to the State Bar of Illinois on Oct. 2, 1912. During
the past 16 years (1928) he has been associated in the real estate and loan business with Henry J. Schluntz, with
offices in the Young Building, in Joliet. Mr. Rehn was elected to the office of State's Attorney in 1924, taking
office December 1st of that year. He was the prosecutor in the case of the six men who were convicted and hanged
in Joliet for killing Deputy Warden Klein.

Hjalmar Rehn married June 2, 1914, Miss Fern Laura Smith, daughter of Charles and Susie (Pendegrast) Smith, natives
of Rossville, Ill., where Mr. Smith was engaged in agriculture and stock raising for many years. He died in September,
1918, and is buried in Rossville, where his widow now resides. They were the parents of eight children: Thomas,
Rossville; Mrs. Rehn; Edwin, Austin, Minnie, live at Rossville; Leo, Rossville; Donovan, Peoria; and George, Joliet.

Mr. Rehn is a Republican and attends the Swedish Methodist Church. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Masonic
Order, being a member of Matteson Lodge, No. 175, A. F. and A. M., of which he was past master in 1924-25; Joliet
Chapter, R. A. M. No. 27; Joliet Council, R. & S. M. M.; Joliet Commandery, K. T. No. 4; Valley of Chicago
Consistory, A. A. S. R., thirty second degree; Medinah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He is a member of the Chamber
of Commerce and the Will County Bar Association.

From:
History of Will County, Illinois
By: August Maue
Historical Publishing Company
Topeka-Indianapolis 1928